City centre
First-timersAround the castle and the river.
Inverness city guide
Things To Do In Inverness
The capital of the Highlands, on the river Ness, with Loch Ness twenty minutes away, Culloden on the edge of town and the North Coast 500 starting at the door.
5
Hostels in the city
8.7
Average, from 10,482 reviews
1746
The Battle of Culloden
20 min
To Loch Ness
830 km
The North Coast 500
The Highland capital
Inverness sits where the river Ness flows into the Moray Firth, at the northern end of the Great Glen, the long fault line that cuts Scotland in two. It is the only city in the Highlands and its natural capital.
The city itself is small and pleasant, with a castle above the river and walks along the water. It is also the base for some of the most famous places in Scotland: Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle, the battlefield of Culloden, where the Jacobite rising ended in 1746, and the start and finish of the North Coast 500 road trip.
Two or three days is right, or longer as a base for the Highlands.
Where to stay
The centre is small, on both banks of the river.
Riverside
A calmer stayAlong the river Ness.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 4 top-rated hostels. Map © MapTiler © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Inverness
Walk along the river Ness to the Ness Islands, wooded islands joined by footbridges. Browse Leakey's, a second-hand bookshop in an old church, and the Victorian Market.
Culloden Battlefield, fifteen minutes away, is where the last pitched battle on British soil was fought in 1746, ending the Jacobite rising. The visitor centre tells the story from both sides. The Clava Cairns, Bronze Age burial cairns nearby, are free.
Loch Ness is twenty minutes away. Urquhart Castle, ruined on the shore, is the classic view, and boat trips run on the loch.
At Chanonry Point on the Black Isle, bottlenose dolphins come close to the shore on a rising tide.
Free things
Free things to do in Inverness
The river walks and the Ness Islands are free.
The Clava Cairns are free. Watching the dolphins at Chanonry Point costs nothing.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Inverness
Inverness has good Highland produce: venison, salmon, langoustines and beef. Pubs serve hearty food, and the city has a growing restaurant scene.
A pub meal is £12 to £18.
Nightlife
Going out in Inverness
Inverness has pubs with live folk and traditional music most nights. Hootananny is the best known.
A pint is £5 to £6.
Getting around
Getting around Inverness
The centre is walkable. Inverness Airport is a short bus ride away.
Trains reach Edinburgh and Glasgow in about three and a half hours, and the Caledonian Sleeper runs overnight from London. The Kyle Line runs west to Kyle of Lochalsh, for Skye.
Buses go to Loch Ness, Fort William and Skye. A car is the best way to do the North Coast 500.
Costs
What Inverness costs
Inverness is mid-priced. Dorms start around £22, rising in summer. A careful day is £45 to £60.
The costs that add up are Culloden, Urquhart Castle and tours.
The currency is the pound sterling, and Scottish banknotes are legal tender. Cards work almost everywhere, including contactless on buses.
Safety
Staying safe in Inverness
Inverness is very safe.
On Highland roads, single-track sections have passing places; use them to let others pass, and never park in them.
From late May to September, midges swarm in still, damp weather; bring repellent and a head net.
Emergency number is 999 or 112; for mountain rescue, call 999 and ask for police, then mountain rescue.
Day trips from Inverness
Loch Ness, Culloden and the Highlands.
Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle
The ruined castle on the famous loch.
Culloden
The battlefield and visitor centre.
Chanonry Point
Dolphins close to shore on a rising tide.
Cairngorms
Britain's largest national park.
North Coast 500
A road trip round the far north.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Highland games and summer festivals fill the season.
Staff pick
1 October
Connor Burns
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Staff pick
30 December
Bad Manners
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30 October
Alison Moyet
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1 November
National Brick Show
LEGO fans of all ages will find plenty to enjoy at National Brick Events Inverness. You can build freely in massive brick pits, admire…
6 October
Thomas Duxbury, The Northern Waters & Fraser MacDonald
Canadian garage rock band Thomas Duxbury and New Mother Nature bring their Hell Yeah Brothers Tour to Inverness with The Northern Waters and Fraser…
10 October
Phil Kay
Phil Kay brings a night full of laughter with his unique blend of storytelling, improvised songs, and conceptual one-liners. His show includes tales from…
17 October
Culloden Wargaming
History comes alive on a miniature scale at Culloden Wargaming, where tabletop games recreate famous and imagined battles. You can explore interactive displays and…
25 October
Full Moon Fire Walk
The Full Moon Fire Walk invites you to take on a thrilling challenge by walking barefoot across glowing hot coals. This event supports Mikeysline…
Hostels
Where to stay in Inverness
The top-rated places to stay in Inverness right now, live from Hostelworld.
When to go
May to September is best. Summer beds book out early.
Jan
Quiet
Feb
Quiet
Mar
Spring
Apr
Spring
May
Good
Jun
Long days
Jul
Highland games
Aug
Busy
Sep
Good
Oct
Autumn
Nov
Dark
Dec
Hogmanay
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in pounds.
Excludes Culloden, Urquhart Castle and tours.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Inverness travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
How far is Loch Ness from Inverness?
About twenty to thirty minutes.
What happened at Culloden?
The last pitched battle on British soil, in 1746, which ended the Jacobite rising.
Is Inverness a good base for the Highlands?
Yes, for Loch Ness, Culloden, the Cairngorms and the North Coast 500.
How do I get to Inverness?
By train from Edinburgh or Glasgow, or the sleeper from London.
Do I need a car?
For the North Coast 500 and remote areas, yes.
How many days do you need?
Two or three.
When is the best time to visit?
May to September.
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